According to Metro newspaper, The Big Apple is home to over a hundred museums. However, most travellers to New York City clearly do not have the luxury of time to cover all these places. If you are after a spectacular world-class experience, then you are on the right track.

From American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art to Whitney Museum Of American Art, here are the 7 Best Museums In New York City for all you art and history junkies. Most admissions require tickets, but the experience will make it worthwhile!

Source: RueBaRue

#1 AMERICAN MUSEM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The American Museum of Natural History—one of the biggest museums in the world—boasts more than 32 million specimens and artefacts. A general admission ticket starts at US$22 per adult and it will grant you entry to 45 museums halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Dinosaur fans do visit the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs and Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs!

Central Park West & 79th St
New York, NY 10024, United States
Tel: +1 212-769-5100
Daily: 10am – 5.45pm
Nearest Station: 81 St – Museum of Natural History

Source: Brooklyn Museum

#2 BROOKLYN MUSEUM

Spanning across 560,000 square feet, Brooklyn Museum is a massive museum home to approximately 1.5 million artworks. The museum—located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn—is a must-visit for all art buffs. General admission tickets start at US$16 per adult while students with valid ID pay US$10 per person.

200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn
NY 11238, United States
Tel: +1 718-638-5000
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Wed: 11am – 6pm
Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Eastern Parkway Brooklyn Museum

Source: Arad

#3 METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

Colloquially known as The Met, Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the United States. The renowned museum was founded in 1870 and showcases a trove of masterpieces with origins from all over the world. You can easily spend an entire day here. A general admission ticket starts at US$25 per adult while kids under 12 enter for free.

1000 5th Ave, New York
NY 10028, United States
Tel: +1 212-731-1498
Sun to Thu: 10am – 5.30pm
Fri and Sat: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: 86 St

Source: NYC Arts

#4 MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a multi-level museum with an excellently curated collection of modern and contemporary art. Crowds are a daily sight but do not let it deter you from marvelling at the world’s best art pieces. Admission tickets start from US$25 per adult while children aged 16 and below can enter for free.

11 W 53rd St, New York
NY 10019, United States
Tel: (212) 708-9400|
Sat to Thu: 10.30am – 5.30pm
Fri: 10.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: 5 Av/53 St

Source: Creative Venue NYC

#5 MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Built in 1923 and founded by historian Henry Collins Brown, Museum Of The City Of New York is exactly what it is. The museum exhibits artefacts related to the city’s past, present and future. Tickets range from US$10 per adult and S$10 per pax for seniors and students. Those aged 20 and below can enter for Museum Of The City Of New York for free.

1220 5th Ave, New York
NY 10029, United States
Tel: +1 212-534-1672
Daily: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: 103 St

Source: Inhabitat

#6 MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE

New York City’s Museum of the Moving Image is a media museum. From 19th century optical toys to the latest digital cinematography, you can expect a wide selection of genres across various media platforms here. Admission tickets range from US$15 per adult and US$7 for youths aged between 3 to 17.

36-01 35th Ave, New York
NY 11106, United States
Tel: +1 718-777-6800
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Wed and Thu: 10.30am – 5pm
Fri: 10.30am – 8pm
Sat and Sun: 11.30am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Steinway St

Source: Whitney

#7 WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

Known by New Yorkers as Whitney, The Whitney Museum of American Art is located in Manhattan. The building—designed by architect Renzo Piano—is sandwiched between the High Line and the Hudson River. It is the first museum with a sole dedication in present work of living American artists. General admission tickets range from US$17 per student/senior and US$22 per adult.

99 Gansevoort St, New York
NY 10014, United States
Tel: (212) 570-3600
Closed on Tuesdays
Mon to Thu: 10.30am – 6pm
Fri and Sat: 10.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: 14 St

For more recommendations on where to go, read our New York’s food and travel guides.

Much ado about Lobster Rolls.

Life at The Big Apple revolved largely around the crustacean, and we stuffed ourselves silly with the endless lobster options. While the co-relation between New York City and lobsters is debatable, we would like to think no trip to NYC is complete without having a lobster roll or two. Or three. Or how about every day?

So we did lots of research, asked for recommendations, and spent our weeks trying lobster rolls from every corner of Manhattan. Not quite sick of them yet, and instead, we wished we were residents of NYC so that we could party with lobster rolls more often.

Where do you find New York City’s Best Lobster Rolls, and what are your favourites? Here’s our guide on 9 of the Best Lobster Rolls in New York City.

#1 BURGER & LOBSTER

Fans of Burger & Lobster – the famous Brit restaurant which only serves three items on the menu: Burger, Whole Lobster and Lobster Roll – will be thrilled to know that it has opened its first restaurant in United States. Like its restaurants in U.K., the three items are all served at US$20 each, and even after adding in taxes and tipping, it actually works out to be a lot cheaper than what you would have to pay for in the U.K. (as compared to £20 each).

The beef for the burger is from Nebraska, while the lobsters come from Nova Scotia. At US$20, Burger & Lobster’s Lobster Roll is extremely value-for-money and worth every cent, especially when you compare it to other lobster rolls in New York.

w 10011, 39 W 19th Street
Tel: (646) 833 7532
Sun to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: 14 St/East 23St – Broadway

#2 ED’S LOBSTER BAR

Lobster Roll, Lobster Pot Pie, Lobster Ravioli, Steamed Lobster, Grilled Lobster, Broiled Lobster, and Lobster Burger – you name it, Ed’s Lobster Bar has it. It is a lobster heaven. The Grilled Lobster is decent, but the must-try is the Lobster Roll (US$30, varies with market price).

Filled with chunks of lobster flesh, the Lobster Roll is easily the best we’ve had at New York City. Fresh, red meat lightly tossed in mayo and lemon juice, pillowed in a toasted, buttered brioche; the end result is a Lobster Roll so heavenly, it got us slightly obsessed.

222 Lafayette Street, New York
Tel: (212) 343 3236
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12midnight
Sun: 12pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Spring St

#3 LUKE’S LOBSTER

There are tons of restaurants that sell lobster rolls in New York City, but Luke’s Lobster has made a name for itself by bringing the best of the Maine Coast to New York City with fresh Maine lobster, crab and shrimp rolls at unbeatable prices.

The Shrimp Roll starts at just US$8, while the Crab Roll is US$13. Unlike most seafood restaurants in the Big Apple which charge over US$30 for a Lobster Roll, Luke’s is selling its Lobster Roll at a jaw-dropping price of only US$16!

93 East 7th Street
Tel: (212) 387 8487
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Astor Place/2 Av

#4 LURE FISHBAR

Said to be a place that celebrities and famous connoisseurs patronize, Lure Fishbar at SoHo indeed has one of the best lobster rolls in New York City. But first, let us warn you about the staff and their snobbish attitude. It is honestly not the nicest place to hang out at – the vibe is so pretentious, with glum-looking staff who are not the most polite.

If you are look beyond that, Lure Fishbar has Lobster Rolls at US$30 per serving that we wolfed down within five minutes. The bread’s nicely toasted and warm on the inside, and the overflowing chunks of lobster flesh are evenly coated with the homemade sauce.

93 E 7th Street, New York
Tel: (212) 387 8487
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Astor Pl

#5 RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND

Just to be clear, Red Hook Lobster Pound is not exactly a hidden secret. If any, it is a popular Brooklyn seafood chain with an outlet in Manhattan, as well as a food truck. Cool, yes?

Its Manhattan outlet is tucked in a small alley off East 1st Street. There are five lobster rolls on the menu – Maine Style (US$16), Tuscan Style (US$16), Connecticut Style (US$16), Lobster BLT (US$18), Bikini Style (US$16) – and every lobster roll comes with 1/4 lb fresh-picked Maine lobster on a grilled, top-split hotdog bun with a Brooklyn Brine Pickle.

Pick the Connecticut Style lobster roll – hot, buttery and very robust. We couldn’t get enough of that one there.

16 Extra Place, New York
Tel: (212) 777-7225
Tue to Fri: 11.30am – 9pm
Sat: 12pm – 9pm
Sun: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Broadway – Lafayette St/2 Av

#6 THE LOBSTER PLACE (CULL & PISTOL)

At US$16.95, the Lobster Roll from The Lobster Place at Chelsea Market represents superb value. Sure, it is not the fanciest, but it works great as a fuss-free meal and if you need to grab a lunch on the go. This is for takeaway, but you can sit at the few tables at the entrance of The Lobster Place.

For a proper sit-down meal, you can head next door to Cull & Pistol which shares the same kitchen. The Maine Style Lobster Roll (US$25) and Connecticut Style Lobster Roll (US$25) are served with fries on the side.

The Lobster Place opens from 9.30am, but the lobster roll kiosk only starts operating from 11am onwards.

Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave
New York
Tel: (212) 255-5672
Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 9pm
Sun: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: 14 St

#7 MARY’S FISH CAMP

This tiny seafood restaurant in West Village is always packed for a reason – it dishes out well-cooked New England fish shack-style seafood. The much-lauded Lobster Roll (US$32, varies with Market Price), with huge chunks of lobster meat served in a delicious roll, also lived up to the hype.

The serving is not exactly the most generous, but we would say you are paying for the supreme quality. Here, you get an honest roll that is as simple as it can get – the freshness of the crustacean flaunts its natural sweetness, and the brioche is soft and warm. We wish it was slightly more buttered, though.

64 Charles Street, New York
Tel: (646) 486 2185
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Christopher St – Sheridan Sq

#8 PEARL OYSTER BAR

Sitting within West Village, Pearl Lobster Bar is a beautiful outlet with a minimalist interior. The menu is concise, with a large emphasis on oysters. They are also widely recognized for their Lobster Roll (US$29).

Sure, the serving is a generous one, and the shoestring fries are goddamn awesome. But we thought the lobster’s sweetness was overpowered by the mayo. It is still a pretty decent lobster roll, though. The bun’s alright, but we would prefer them go easy on the sauce to let the lobster’s freshness shine on its own.

18 Cornelia Street, New York
Tel: (212) 691 8211
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: W 4 St

#9 URBAN LOBSTER SHACK

Urban Lobster Shack is red and iconic, and is very much welcomed by executives and people who want a fuss-free lunch to go. It is not hard to love them – lobster rolls are pleasantly affordable at US$13 for the classic serving, and you have the option of topping up for soup and chips and other combos.

There are also several lobster options, like the BLT sandwich and grilled lobster. But we stood at Wall Street to observe, and everyone in the long queue simply went for the classic Lobster Roll. So, Lobster Roll it shall be for you too.

15 Stone St # 1, New York
(Location changes every day)
Tel: (212) 809 2626
Nearest Station: Whitehall St

Standing at the top of Rockefeller Center, one cannot help but to be blown away by the spectacular view of New York City’s skyline. Several weeks ago, I visited this beautiful city and embarked on an eating spree.

Here is a guide to 5 of New York City’s best restaurants & most talked about eateries. From a small bar-concept Japanese diner to 3 stars Michelin French restaurant, there is bound to be one that you will like.

Visiting New York City should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list. I’ve already ticked it off mine, what are you waiting for?

Curry-Ya Japanese Restaurant

Featured in reputable press like The New York Times and New York Time Out, Curry-Ya is a humble looking Japanese bar-concept restaurant that you definitely do not want to miss. The dishes may look simple but the steps to attain the quality are definitely far from easy. The gourmet curry has been skillfully stewed for 8 hours alongside with a large variety of ingredients such as spices, fruits, vegetables, chicken and oxtail soup. You must try the Baked Curry where raw eggs and the special curry sauce are alternated between layers of fragrant rice.

214 East 10th Street, New York
NY 10003, United States
Tel: +1 212 995 2877
Daily: 12noon – 11pm

Jean-Georges Restaurant

Countless of restaurants have vied hard in earning just a Michelin Star but to no avail. Yet Jean-Georges has been bestowed the honour of 3 Michelin Stars, standing out as one of the World’s best fine dining restaurants. This topnotch dining experience is pricey and fancy – no jeans allowed and reservations are required. If you love indulging in gourmet food in beautiful high-ceiling interiors, this is the place to splurge your cash. The signature dishes include sautéed sea scallops and yellow fin tuna. The desserts are interestingly yummy, ranging from spiced pumpkin macarons to nougats infused with pistachios and cranberries.

1 Central Park West, New York
NY 10023, United States
Tel: +1 212 299 3900
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Friday: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Saturday: 5.30pm – 11pm

Momofuku Milk Bar

“One of the most exciting bakeries in the country” said Bon Appetit Magazine. Momofuku Milk Bar is a cute bakery filled with heaps of delicious and creative goodies. The must try item would be cereal milk soft serve ice cream with cornflake crunch. Christina Tosi, founder of the milk bar, has made all these genius culinary ideas possible. She is also named as the rising chef of James Beard Foundation in 2012.

251 e 13th Street New york
NY 10003, corner of 13th street / 2nd avenue
Daily: 9am – 12midnight

Norma’s

Located at Le Parker Meridien Hotel, this breakfast place is extremely popular and crowded. Reservations are mandatory if you would like to have breakfast there. Having made a reservation, we still had to wait for another 20 minutes! While the service lacks efficiency, the scrumptiousness of the food does make it up. Orange juices are freshly squeezed and food comes in large portions. A complimentary shot of strawberry-papaya-pineapple smoothie is given to each customer – who doesn’t like free yummy stuff? The super cheesy French toast with caramelized onions and apple wood smoked bacon are to die for, definitely the best I ever had. If you are outrageous enough, feel free to order the USD$1000 caviar omelette and let me know if it is worth its absurd price.

119 West 56th Street, New York
NY 10019, United States
Tel: +1 212 708 7460
Mon to Fri: 7am – 3pm
Sat & Sun: 7.30am – 3pm

Lady M Confections

The widely acclaimed Lady M Confections have been featured in so many magazines i.e. Oprah Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and even VOGUE magazine for a reason – they are downright delicious! The Mille Crepes sell like hotcakes and Lady M Confections usually close its store before its official closing hours. These 20 layer thin crepe cakes comes in 3 flavours, namely orginal, green tea & chocolate. The Mille Crepe is indeed a tasty complex creation; it’s extremely thin, and light yet rich in flavour. The best part is when it melts slowly in your mouth.

41 East 78th Street, New York
NY 10021, United States
Tel: +1 212-452-2222
Mon to Fri: 10am – 7pm
Saturday: 11am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm

About the writer
Hui Jun Ng is a Media and Communications student at RMIT University, Melbourne. She loves indulging in good food and traveling. She is part of a media productions group called CUTXPACE Productions and they recently completed a promotional video for Melbourne Art Show. You can follow her adventures in Melbourne here.

Earlier this year, I had the chance to travel to New York to visit Dean & Deluca, and I had the time of my life. During that week, I ate, and ate, and ate some more. New York is a destination for every food lover, and I was simply blown away by the dining scene.

Here’s my New York City Dining Guide. I’ve included my favourite restaurants, cheap eats, bakeries and desserts, which will make you want to buy a ticket and fly off to NYC immediately.

Where to eat in New York City? Read on and find out more!

Restaurants

Imperial No. 9 (first picture of this post) is my dream restaurant. I fell in love with it at first sight. You must go there for brunch when you are in New York.

I will jump straight to one of my favourite places in New York. Prune (54 E 1st Street First Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 677 6221) – a tiny restaurant on the fringe of East Village which has an almost cult-like following – does not take reservations for brunch on weekend, so I was there early to queue up for a spot. I was not disappointed. The food is unpretentious and delicious. I’d highly recommend going there for a meal when you are in NYC.

On W Houston Street, you have Burger and Barrel (25 West Houston Street New York Tel: +01 212 334 7320) – a gastrobar restaurant that serves simple comfort food like burgers and sandwiches. It has a terrific atmosphere, making it the perfect place to have a nice dinner with a glass of wine or beer.

Ippudo (51 4th Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 388v0088) in NYC was quite an experience. Cool music, trendy vibe, and good ramen. There’s only one word to describe it: wow. Remember to have the pork buns for appetisers when you are there.

Momofuku Noodle Bar (171 1st Avenue New York; between 10th and 11th street Tel: +01 212 777 7773) has often been compared with Ippudo, so I had to make a trip there to find out. Dining at Momofuku Noodle Bar is a casual affair and I enjoyed my meal there. While Ippudo has better ramen than Momofuku, the latter wins in terms of the famous pork buns.

Another David Chang’s restaurant, Momofuku Ssam Bar (207 2nd Avenue New York; corner of 13th street and 2nd Avenue Tel: +01 212 254 3500) is a place which serves pretty good food in a cool setting.

At $28, the Prix Fix menu ($28) offered excellent value. The signature tripe pork – an ideal dish to start the meal – was spicy and refreshing. I also had a duck sandwich which was very good, and I ended the meal with a grapefruit tart. I am a fan of David Chang, so don’t take my word for it. Try out his restaurants when you are in NYC.

The Korean Fried Chicken trend took New York City by storm a few years ago, and Bonchon Restaurant (957 2nd Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 308 8810) was, and still is, one of the most popular Korean Restaurants in town.

We shared a medium platter which had a mix of wings and drumsticks in soy garlic and spicy flavours. They were finger licking good (for a lack of a better term), but I have to say that there are equally good Korean fried chicken in Singapore. If you are planning to go on a hunt for the best Korean Fried Chicken in NYC, you should also check out Kyochon (350 5th Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 725 9292).

Eatalty (200 5th Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 229 2560) by Celebrity Chef Mario Batali is a gigantic food emporium with everything – from cured meats and cheeses, fruits and vegetables, fresh meats, fresh fish, handmade pasta, desserts and baked goods – under one roof. Definitely worth a visit.

Balthazar Restaurant (80 Spring Street New York Tel: +01 212 965 1414) is also a must-visit. Stepping inside Balthazar, it felt as though we were transported to Paris. It’s hard to explain but I was definitely enchanted here in a way I haven’t been in quite some time.

I had a fantastic meal at Saxon and Parole (316 Bowery New York Tel: +01 212 254 0350). Everything that we had was good, and prices are actually very reasonable for the quality of food. Try the Bone Narrow, Chicken Liver for appetisers ($11-15); Roasted Pork Belly and New York Strip for main courses (USD$20-30 for mains, and USD$28-98 for steaks).

ABC Kitchen (35 East 18th Street New York, NY 10003, United States 212 475 5829) by Jean-Georges is a very cool restaurant that focuses on offering the freshest organic and local ingredients. We tried wood oven roasted maine lobster ($57), tuna sashimi marinated with ginger and mint ($16), and roasted kabocha squash toast ($10); with the exception of the wagyu burger ($22) which was too dry, the other dishes were well-done.

The Mercer’s Kitchen (99 Prince Street New York Tel: +01 212 966 5454), another restaurant opened by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, also emphasizes pure, locally produced ingredients. A good place to grab lunch if you are shopping in the SoHo area.

We had breakfast at The Standard Grill (848 Washington Street New York Tel: +01 212 645 4100) – a steak house with an old world charm that’s really nice for all day dining. We tried almost everything on the brunch menu, and my Steak & Eggs was excellent. Definitely a place that I can see myself returning to have steaks for dinner.

Cheap Eats

Ben’s Pizza at SOHO (177 Spring Street New York Tel: +01 212 966 4494) – a place where locals go for a quick fix – offers the classic New York slice. If this is your first time in the Big Apple, you must get a slice of the famous pizza here.

Shake Shack (11 Madison Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 889 6600), arguably one of the most well-known burger places, is one of the must-eats for folks who are visiting the city for the first time. I thought that the burgers were good, but did not live up to the hype. That said, I don’t mind having it if someone is willing to wait in line to get it.

You like fried chicken? You will love Mama fried chicken (2158 8th Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 531 4595). This is the place to get American fried chicken. For less than USD$10, you can have a meal with three pieces of finger-licking good fried chicken. They are, without exaggerating, the best fried chicken I’ve had in my life.

Katz’s Delicatessen (205 East Houston Street New York Tel: +01 212 254 2246) has the best pastrami sandwich (USD$15). I repeat: Best. Pastrami. Sandwich. Make a trip there, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

On the same street, you have Russ and Daughters (179 East Houston Street New York Tel: +01 212 475 4880) – an institution in New York. Everyone goes there for its smoke-salmon bagels.

S’mac (345 East 12th Street New York Tel: +01 212 358 7912) You like Mac & Cheese? You will like S’mac. This is a Mac & Cheese specialty restaurant – they offer Mac & Cheese with interesting flavours like four cheese, cheeseburger, cajun, and masala. The Mac & Cheese comes in different portions, with the small starting at USD$4.75, medium at USD$7.75, and big at USD$13.5.

You mustn’t miss out on trying Lobster Roll when you are in New York City, and you can find the best at Luke’s Lobster (93 East 7th Street Tel: +01 212 387 8487). They use fresh lobster, and each roll comes with a generous portion of lobster meat. Besides lobster roll (USD$15), they also have crab roll ($11) and Shrimp Roll ($8). I’d go so far as to say that this is one of the things that you must eat in New York.

East Village is a foodie paradise, and just a few steps down from Luke’s Lobster, you have Porchetta (110 E 7th Street 1st Avenue Tel: +01 212 777 2151) – a small little joint that is known for their Prochetta Sandwiches (USD$10).

If you are familiar with the New York food scene, you would have probably heard of Big Gay ice cream truck, which combines traditional soft-serve ice cream with imaginative toppings such as wasabi pea dust, Nilla Wafers, Dulce de Leche, olive oil and sea salt. Big Gay ice cream shop (125 East 7th Street; between 1st Avenue & Avenue A) is the owners’ first brick and mortar store, and they offer the full menu to satisfy your ice cream cravings.

For those of you who want a quick meal, Yakitori Taisho (5 St Marks Place between 3rd Ave and Astor Place Tel:+01 212 228 5086) – a popular izakaya in East Village – has decent yakitori at affordable prices.

For other cheap eats in New York, you need to get your hands on hotdogs. I was told by friends that Gray’s Papaya (2090 Broadway New York Tel: +01 212 799 0243) has a pretty decent hotdog. Chipotle (various outlets) – a popular Mexican fast food restaurant – has surprisingy good taco and burrito. And of course, there are plenty of food trucks around New York City, while not all of them are good, there are some really special ones like Kimchi Tacos, Greek Souviaki, and Wafels and Dinges. Fresh, cheap, and amazing street food.

Bakeries and Desserts

How can anyone visit New York without having the red velvet cupcake from the world famous Magnolia Bakery (401 Bleecker Street New York Tel: +01 212 462 2572)? While there are some people who feel that Magnolia Bakery is over-rated, I beg to differ – the cupcakes are surprisingly good, albeit a little too sweet.

Ceci Cela Patisserie (55 Spring Street New York Tel: +01 212 274 9179), a humble French pastry shop – came highly recommended. They have excellent desserts, remember to drop by when you are shopping in the SoHo area.

Another cafe that you should check out in SoHo is Vive La Crepe (51 Spring Street New York Tel: +01 646 484 6897) – just two shops away from Ceci Cela, – which offers delicious savory and sweet crepes.

Pinkberry (41 Spring Street New York Tel+01 888 757 2331) is probably the best froyo in the States. If you have not tried it before, you must get it!

Dominque Ansel (189 Spring Street New York Tel:+01 212 219 2773) is not your usual neighbourhood bakery. It is opened by Dominique Ansel, who was the pastry chef at Daniel for six years. Besides the usual croissants, macarons and éclairs, something that you absolutely can’t miss, is the DKA pastry.

For organic pastries, go to Bird Bath Bakery (169 Prince Street New York Tel: +01 646 722 6565). Trust me, there’s no way you are going to leave the shop empty-handed. There’s also Ivy’s Bakery (138 W Houston Street New York Tel: +01 347 598 3452), a small and cosy cafe that serves different pies and cupcakes.

If you are looking to get gifts for your friends, drop by Xocolatti (172 Prince Street New York Tel: +01 212 256 0332) – one of the most popular chocolate shops – where you can find handcrafted chocolate and exotic truffles. I am not kidding about the exotic flavours. Expect ingredients like Indian cardamom, Iranian pistachios and Spanish saffron.

Junior Cheesecake (Grand Central Terminal New York Tel: +01 212 692 9800) has often been mentioned as one of the best, if not the best cheesecake in New York, and indeed, it did not disappoint. It was so good that I hand-carried three whole cakes back to Singapore.

For something more refined, Chikalicious Dessert Bar (204 E. 10th St, between 1st Ave & 2nd Ave, 212 475 0929) has a dessert prix fix menu where you get an amuse bouche, dessert and petit four. Across the street, their sister cafe, Chikalicious offers simpler but equally delicious desserts like chocolate pudding, cupcakes, and chocolate lava cake. We had a Chocolate Eclair – which was wonderful, and Sloppy Dough – a deep fried donut filled with vanilla cream custard.

Fans of Laduree will be delighted to know that they have a store in New York. Enough said.

One of my favourite cupcake places is Georgetown cupcakes (111 Mercer Street New York Tel: +01 212 431 4504). This is definitely a place you can’t miss if you are going on a quest to find the best cupcakes in New York.

If you like Japanese desserts, you must check out Kyotofu (705 9th Avenue New York Tel: +01 212 974 6012) – New York’s award-winning Japanese Dessert Bar & Bakery. Since opening, Kyotofu has quickly become New Yorkers’ favourite hangout place.

Amy’s Bread (250 Bleecker Street New York Tel: +01 212 675 7802) is a cosy bakery cafe where locals go for breakfast, lunch and desserts. We tried their Red Velvet Cake, and I’m happy to say that it was one of the better ones that I’ve had.

During the Dean & Deluca trip to New York City, the folks kindly arranged for us to stay at Mondrian – a boutique hotel in SoHo.

After posting several photos of the hotel on instagram (follow me at @ladyironchef), I received a lot of comments about how beautiful the place is. I figured that I must tell you more about the hotel.

Mondrian at SoHo is by the Morgans Hotel group, and it is perfectly located at Crosby Street, which sits between Broadway and Lafayette Street. There are plenty of good restaurants nearby like Balthazar, and The Mercer Kitchen. Within walking distances, you can also find Little Italy and Chinatown. And not to mention all the boutique shops in the SoHo area.

One of the most memorable things about my New York trip is definitely the stay in Mondrian Hotel.

Fairytale-like entrance of the hotel.

The designers did an amazing job. While the room is not very big, they managed to build it to be spacious, and very comfortable.

The hotel is fun, vibrant, and refreshing. From the amazing restaurant, to the helpful concierge and friendly staff, to the little details in the room – I love almost everything about the hotel. Except the part where there is no free WiFi. You can, however, get a three day access at US$29.

And oh, I do not know if it is a common practice in the states, but the hotel does not provide bottled waters in the room.

Imperial No. 9 – the hotel restaurant at the lobby – is definitely worth a visit. It’s easily one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever been to.

A night at Mondrian hotel, I have to say, is not cheap. But neither are the other good hotels in New York City.

If you are a fan of designer boutique hotels, you will love Mondrian. It’s modern, classy, and well-designed. I highly recommend it when you are in New York City.

Mondrian Hotel
9 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10013, United States
Tel: (212) 389-0000